I stayed frozen for a moment, long enough that Shisui started to worry. "Noa, are you ok?" he asked, concern clear in his voice. I suddenly started coughing, genuinely caught off guard by what he had said, my chest tightening as my breath hitched. I went blue for a brief moment, which nearly made Shisui panic, until I finally managed to slow my breathing, drawing air in deeply and steadily until the burning in my lungs eased and I could straighten myself again.
I had not expected my actions to lead to walking straight into the bear's den. I let out a slow sigh, looked at Shisui's concerned expression, and spoke carefully. "I am fine, but I do not want to impose. Can I stay somewhere else, like the Yamanaka clan compound or the Nara compound?" Shisui looked sad for a moment, which made me explain myself before he could answer. "I have connections with both, and I think they would welcome me. Me staying in the Uchiha compound might cause tension. Almost no one there knows me, and the one person who does know me doesn't like me."
Shisui laughed at that, the sound light and almost amused, before answering with a grin. "Well, I am an Uchiha, in case you did not know," he said, the last part delivered mockingly, before continuing. "And you will stay with me. I live alone, so you will not be a bother. You would actually breathe some life into that depressing place of mine." I smiled at the idea, realizing that I was apparently becoming some kind of good luck charm for lonely homes now, then nodded and continued walking beside Shisui toward the Uchiha compound, my heart pounding harder with every step.
We walked through the village as the afternoon drifted toward evening, the sun still warm and bright enough to keep the streets lively. Shinobi moved about on errands, shopkeepers chatted with familiar faces, and children darted past with far too much energy, nearly colliding with us more than once. None of it helped my rising anxiety. Shisui sensed it and spoke without slowing his pace. "Breathe, Noa. You are not headed to your death. It is just a new place, and you are under my protection, so you have nothing to worry about." I nodded, forcing myself to do exactly that, and a moment later the huge gates of the Uchiha compound came into view, two guards already standing watch in front of them.
Both of them looked menacing at first glance, sharp features, dark eyes, short hair, their bodies tense as we approached, hands tightening slightly around their weapons. Their Sharingan flickered to life for a brief moment, scanning us on instinct, before immediately fading when they recognized Shisui. They straightened and greeted him in unison. "Shisui-sama. Welcome back." Shisui nodded and gestured toward me. "This is Noa. Make sure he is always allowed inside. He will be staying with me for some time. He is my guest, so show him the same respect you show me." They nodded and bowed without hesitation. Shisui then handed them a scroll. "This is a list of his friends who may visit. Make sure they are allowed entry as well." A complicated look crossed their faces, but Shisui continued calmly. "You can take it up with Fugaku-dono if you are unsure. He will approve it." They nodded again, one of them replying, "Fugaku-dono has already informed us about our new guest, and we will make sure to pass along the list for proper authorization." Shisui smirked slightly as the two guards moved aside and opened the gates, the carved fan symbol of the Uchiha clan standing proudly at their center.
The Uchiha compound was quieter than the rest of the village, not abandoned, but contained, like everything inside its walls knew exactly where it belonged. The streets were wide and clean, lined with dark wooden buildings built low and sturdy, their tiled roofs angled neatly and marked with subtle clan motifs instead of bright colors. Small training yards opened between houses, some with practice posts, others with simple stone paths worn by years of use, and I could feel discipline baked into the layout itself. Red and white fans were carved into gateposts and beams, understated but unmistakable, and even the lanterns were uniform, their soft glow practical rather than decorative. It felt orderly, deliberate, and restrained, a place designed for shinobi who valued control and tradition over comfort, and as we passed deeper inside, I had the strange impression that the compound was watching me just as closely as I was taking it in, my already tense nerves and heavy mood sinking further with each step.
I looked around, forcing a kind of fake curiosity to mask the tight knot in my chest, when I noticed something unexpected. Kaen was nearby, arms full of training equipment, clearly in the middle of moving it toward one of the houses. My tension spiked the moment I really looked at him. There were bruises on his face and along his arms, dark and fresh enough to stand out even at a glance. I knew his parents were strict, but this looked like more than that, and the realization settled uncomfortably in my gut.
Kaen noticed me a heartbeat later, his eyes widening in disbelief, his attention slipping just enough for his feet to carry him straight into a nearby lantern post. He slammed face first into it before tumbling backward, the equipment scattering across the ground as he yelped in pain. Shisui noticed the commotion at the same time and glanced at me, tilting his chin slightly in Kaen's direction. I sighed and moved closer, crouching down to gather the scattered items while Kaen remained frozen, still trying to process what had just happened.
A few moments later, he finally found his voice. "What are you doing here?"
I shrugged lightly. "Ask sensei."
Shisui stepped forward and answered for me. "Noa will be staying with me for the month we have before traveling for the Chunin Exams. From tomorrow on, your training will be at my house. You will only go home to sleep, so make sure to inform your parents." Kaen nodded quickly, relief flickering across his face before he could fully hide it. It was clear what Shisui was aiming for, and using the Chunin Exams as justification ensured his parents would not argue.
I handed Kaen the recovered equipment. "See you tomorrow." Then Shisui and I continued on toward his house, leaving Kaen standing there amid the quiet streets of the compound.
As we approached Shisui's home, my heart sank deeper into my chest when I saw the figures waiting in front of the entrance. Itachi Uchiha stood there, watching me with an unguarded curiosity that felt sharp in its own way, while beside him was a tall, broad-shouldered man whose presence alone made the air feel heavier, his face carved from metal and his eyes sharp enough to pin me in place the moment they settled on me.
He looked at me for a brief second, then nodded and stepped forward. Without warning, he extended his hand toward me. I froze, caught completely off guard, my mind lagging behind the sudden gesture, but after a moment I realized what he was doing and reached out to shake it. His grip was firm, surprisingly warm, and steady. He spoke in a deep, controlled voice. "Thank you for saving Shisui from that deadly trap. The Uchiha owe you a great debt for that, and we always repay our debts. Think of this place as your home and do not feel burdened by your stay. I will make sure the entire clan knows you are always welcome here." He smiled at the end, and although it was clear he was not used to doing so, I could feel that the emotion behind it was genuine.
Still a bit tense, I responded carefully. "I only did what any Leaf shinobi would have done." Fugaku nodded in response. "Perhaps, but you had the strength to change the outcome of a battle involving jonin. At your age, that is no small thing. It takes courage, and strength to back it up." His curiosity sharpened for an instant as his Sharingan activated, briefly observing my build and chakra before dimming almost immediately in a display of absolute control. He nodded again, clearly satisfied. "You are worthy of the strength you possess. I can tell you worked hard for it."
I bowed instinctively. "Thank you, Fugaku-dono." He looked pleased at my manners as he turned away. "If you need anything, let me know." I bowed again, replying quickly, "I appreciate your hospitality, Fugaku-dono."
Itachi remained where he was, watching me closely, his gaze quiet but intent. Shisui glanced at both of us, as if he had expected Itachi to stay behind rather than follow his father, then clapped his hands together lightly. "Alright, let's go in," he said with a wide smile, clearly eager for what came next.